File holder



Janine w, 1923. 1,459,613

M. L. CARRHER 7 F1 LE HOLDER Filed Maren 2. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 19, 1923.

M. L. CARRIER FILE HOLDER Filed March 2, 1922 mswm 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 19, 1923.

MILTON L. CARRIER, 0F CENTRALIA, WASHINGTON.

FILE HOLDER.

Application filed March 2, 1922.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MmroN L. CARRIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Centralia, in the county of Lewis and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in File Holders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved file holder which is especially, but not necessarily, designed for use in schoolrooms for keeping folders containing written matter on different subjects in an orderly manner for future reference, although the holder is, of course, adaptable for use in connection with other kinds of filing systems.

The principal object of the invention is to generally improve upon devices of this class by providing one of extreme simplicity and durability which is practical, easy to make use of and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to de- Vise a file holder which embodies among other details, a novel retaining rod for holding the cards and folders in placeand facilitating insertion and removal, there being a latch co-operative with the rod to hold it against rotation and in looking position to prevent accidental displacement of the files.

More specifically speaking, it is another object of the invention to devise a novel file holder wherein the bottom is composed of two sections having their meeting edges secured together and properly designed to form a track for a slidable follower.

It is also a feature and object of the invention to have one end of the track terminate in spaced relation to the adjacent wall of the holder to provide space for permitting removal and replacement of the follower.

Uther objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a file holder constructed in accordance with this invention.

Serial No. 540,460.

Figure 2 is, a central longitudinal sec:

tional view taken on the plane of the line the numeral 1, the same being provided.

with a novel metal bottom 2 which is preferably composed of duplicate sections 3,

each of which has its outer edges bent downwardly to provide attaching flanges 4 for the sides of the box proper. The inner longitudinal portion of each section is bentdownwardly at 5 to extend in parallelism with the aforesaid flanges and is then bent at right angles as at 6 and upwardly again at 7, the last bent portions of the two sections being soldered or otherwise secured together and forming the web of a track, the head of which is formed by bending the upper extremities of the portions 7 of these bottom sections at right angles in opposite directions as indicated at 8. design is thus provided and a channel is formed at the center of the bottom.

As before intimated, the device embodies a retainer rod 9 and this rod is disposed directly over the track and is spaced above the same, being confined in the channel of the aforesaid bottom. One end of the rod is rotatably mounted in a bearing plate 10 arranged at one end of the channel, the opposite end extends through a bearing opening in the front wall of the box and the extended portion is angularly bent to form a handle 11 for enabling the rod to be rotated from the exterior. In most instances, cards and file containers and portfolios are formed with enlarged openings having restricted entrances to permit coaction of a retaining rod therewith for holding them against displacement. Therefore, in order to permit the retaining rod to cooperate with cards thus constructed, the opposite sides are flattened slightly so as when they are disposed vertically, they are permitted to pass through the restricted entrances to the A track of T will be seen that this novel card openings. However, as soon as the rod is positioned in the opening, it is rotated and turned so that the flattened sides are disposed horizontally to prevent the cards from being withdrawn. For the purpose of holding the flattened sides of the rod horizontally, I provide a vertically sliding latch 12 which is slidable through a suitable guide 13 secured to the inner side of the front wall of the box. As seen clearly in Fig. 3, the lower edge of this latch is bifurcated -and the furcations are designed to straddle the reduced flattened portions 14 of the r0d9 which are disposed directly beneath the furcations to permit engagement of the latter therewith when the rod is turned to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. It may be conveniently stated here that although the opposite end of the retaining rod is anchored as shown, it is not absolutely essential that it be connected in this manner toprevent longitudinal movement, because so long as the latch is in effective position and engaged with the flattened reduced portion' of the rod, this will suffice to prevent such movement.

- For the purpose of confining the files 1n. compact relation when not in use, a follower 15 is provided and in order to retain the latter in various set positions between the ends of the box, novel means is employed.

The means last referred to can be clearly seen in Fig. 6. Referring to thisfigure, it

mounting member is so constructed as to grip the head of the aforesaid track and in its preferred form it is constructed from a single length of metal which is bent between its ends as at 16' to provide spaced upstanding relatively long and short arms 17 and 18 respectively. The first named or long arm is bent at 19 and inclined toward the remaining arm and the upper end is bent laterally as indicated at 20 to dispose it in a plane with the short arm-18. Both arms are formed with suitable apertures to permit passage of the fasteners for securing the follower plate thereto. The connecting portion 16 for the arms is inclined to the degree illustrated more clearly in Figs. 2 and 6 and is formed with a central slot 21 to accommodate the web of the aforesaid track and the arms at their juncture with this connecting portion 16 are formed with substantially oblong openings 22 designed to receive the head of the track. Communicating with these openings 22 are other openings 23 which are placed to accommodate the card-retaining rod 9. It is yet to be pointed out that the metal is bent up as indicated at 24: to provide grips for engagement with the underside of the head of the track. These portions 2d are at all times frictionally engaged with the track and in order to release the grips, it is only necessary to tilt the follower in the usual way.

Attention is here directed to the fact that the aforesaid track does not extend the full length of the box, but terminates in, spaced relation from the front wall, the space being of suflicient size to permit the follower to be slid off of the track and to be removed or inserted whenever necessary or desired.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that in order to insert files or portfolios containing files into the box, it is first necessary to dispose the retainer rod 9 so that the flattened sides extend vertically, thus permitting them to pass throughthe restricted portions in the card openings; After the latter are inserted, the rodis rotated to dispose the flattened sides horizontally as hereinbefore described and the cards thus held against displacement. As

described,the follower is normally held in a set position due to the frictional engagement of the mounting member with the track.- However, by inclining the follower in the proper direction, the frictional grip is released and free sliding permitted. 7 As for the manner of inserting and removing the files and cards, this is clearly understood and it therefore seems that the drawings and description are SUffiGlGDt to enable persons skilled in the art to obtain a clear understanding of the invention. In view of this, a more lengthy and detailed description is thought unnecessary.

Since probably the best results may be obtained with the construction and arrangement herein shown and described, this is taken as thepreferred embodiment of the invention. However, I wish it to be understood that minor changes coming within the scope of the invention as claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim: 1. In a file holder, mounting means for a follower plate comprising a substantially U- shaped member formed from one piece of material, the intermediate or connecting, portion of which is inclined and formed with an opening to accommodate. the web of a track, and the vertical arms of said memher being formed at. their point of juncture with the connecting portion with openings to accommodate the head of the track. 7

2. In a. holder for cards, files and the like, a bottom composed of duplicate sections having their adjacent portions bent to forma channel and their meeting edges bent to pro-- vide a track disposed at the center of=the channel. I a

3. In a file holder, amounting member for the follower formed from a metal bar bent into substantial U-shape to provide spaced upstanding arms of varying lengths, the long arm being directed toward the short arm and having its free end bent laterally and disposed in a plane with the outer face of the short arm, the follower plate being designed to rest against said outer face and the laterally bent end of said long arm.

4. 'The structure set forth in claim 4, the

tudinal sides of said slot being bent upwardly for frictional engagement With the track. 10 i In testimony whereof I'have hereunto set my hand.

MILTON L. CARRIER. 

